AnswersDRHS American Literature and CompositionThe True Story behind Trifles

The True Story behind Trifles — Unit test Answers

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How is Mr. Hossack portrayed similarly in both Midnight Assassin and the article "Indicted Her for Murder"?

A
He is portrayed as a manipulative man with a great many enemies.
B
He is portrayed as an unsuccessful man with very few admirers.
C
He is portrayed as a man who is dedicated to his family.
D
He is portrayed as a well-known man in his community.
2
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Read the excerpt from Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique.I heard echoes of the problem in college dormitories and semiprivate maternity wards, at PTA meetings and luncheons of the League of Women Voters, at suburban cocktail parties, in station wagons waiting for trains, and in snatches of conversation overheard at Schrafft’s. The groping words I heard from other women, on quiet afternoons when children were at school or on quiet evenings when husbands worked late, I think I understood first as a woman long before I understood their larger social and psychological implications.Based on the underlined words and phrases, what is Friedan most likely trying to express?

A
It was unacceptable for women to show displeasure, and many feared being punished by law.
B
The ideas of a minority of women were not understood by the majority of women.
C
Women did not yet understand that they were dissatisfied, so they had difficulty explaining themselves.
D
Feelings of discontentment among women were growing but still could not be expressed openly.
3

Read the excerpt from part two of Trifles.MRS. HALE. It’s log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if she was goin’ to quilt or just knot it? (Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The Sheriff enters, followed by Hale and the County Attorney.)SHERIFF. They wonder if she was going to quilt or just knot it. (The men laugh, the women look abashed.)What is ironic about this excerpt?

A
The men laugh at the women, and the women find themselves feeling very embarrassed by this.
B
The men believe the women are incapable of discovering anything of substance when, in fact, they are the ones who discover evidence.
C
Although they are considered to be good, knowledgeable homemakers, the women are puzzled by which stitching technique was used in the quilt.
D
Although the women are in Mrs. Wright’s kitchen, they are unfamiliar with many of the items that they find.
4

The fact that women often feel pressured to conform to society’s expectations is a common feminist theme found within literature. As this theme appears within part two of Trifles, which pair of symbols most strengthens this theme?

A
towel, table
B
bottle of fruit, birdcage
C
breadbox, cats
D
quilt, bird
5

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. Well, my first thought was to get that rope off. I looked . . . (Stops, his face twitches.) . . . but Harry, he went up to him, and he said, “No, he’s dead all right, and we’d better not touch anything.”How does the use of the word “twitches” in the stage direction most affect this scene?

A
It characterizes Hale as someone who is weak and cannot handle difficult aspects of the job.
B
It emphasizes the fact that death is a difficult subject for Mr. Hale and causes him discomfort.
C
It hints to the reader that Hale may have somehow been involved and is acting out of guilt.
D
It reveals to the reader that Hale is extremely upset because he and Mr. Wright were very close.
6

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.SHERIFF. Nothing here but kitchen things. (The County Attorney, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here’s a nice mess. (The women draw nearer.) MRS. PETERS (to the other woman). Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. (To the Lawyer). She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break.What do the underlined stage directions suggest about the women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters?

A
They are totally fascinated by what the County Attorney is saying.
B
They are being polite by attempting to move nearer to the speaker.
C
They share a bond as women and are instinctively curious.
D
They are attempting to hide something by distracting the speaker.
7

How does Midnight Assassin differ from the primary source article "She Prepares to Fight" in its portrayal of Mrs. Hossack?

A
The excerpt portrays Mrs. Hossack only as cold and hateful, while the article presents multiple images of her.
B
The excerpt portrays Mrs. Hossack as warm and compassionate, while the article presents an image of her as vengeful and cruel.
C
The article portrays Mrs. Hossack as weak and frail, while the excerpt presents an image of her as strong and determined.
D
The article portrays Mrs. Hossack as only potentially dangerous, while the excerpt presents two very different images of her.
8

According to the article "Introduction to Modern Drama Study," which of the following best explains why more women began to emerge as playwrights in the 1960s?

A
Women became frustrated with the roles they were being forced to play and chose instead to rebel.
B
Women began to realize that they could take control of their lives and choose how they wanted to live.
C
Women discovered a real passion for the stage and decided to use it to make a statement about their inferiority.
D
Women decided that men should not be the only ones to achieve financial success and began to pursue careers.
9

Read the excerpt from The Little Foxes.REGINA. (to BEN) Horace would like to talk to you now.HORACE. Horace would not like to talk to you now. I am very tired, Regina—REGINA. (comes to him) Please. You’ve said we’ll try our best with each other. I’ll try. Really, I will. Please do this for me now. You will see what I’ve done while you’ve been away. How I watched your interests. (Laughs gaily) And I’ve done very well too. But things can’t be delayed any longer. Everything must be settled this week— (HORACE sits down. BEN enters. OSCAR has stayed in the dining room, his head turned to watch them. LEO is pretending to read the newspaper) Now you must tell Horace all about it. Only be quick because he is very tired and must go to bed. (HORACE is looking up at her. His face hardens as she speaks) But I think your news will be better for him than all the medicine in the world. BEN. (looking at HORACE) It could wait. Horace may not feel like talking today. REGINA. What an old faker you are! You know it can’t wait. You know it must be finished this week. You’ve been just as anxious for Horace to get here as I’ve been.What does this excerpt emphasize about the character of Regina?

A
her dismissive attitude toward her husband
B
her anger toward her husband about his past decisions
C
her desire to be a traditional wife for her husband
D
her innate belief that she is inferior to her husband
10

Read the following scene from The Little Foxes.BEN. (very jovial) I suppose I have been. And why not? Horace has done Hubbard Sons many a good turn. Why shouldn’t I be anxious to help him now?REGINA. (laughs) Help him! Help him when you need him, that’s what you mean.BEN. What a woman you married, Horace. (Laughs awkwardly when HORACE does not answer) Well, then I’ll make it quick. You know what I’ve been telling you for years. How I’ve always said that every one of us little Southern businessmen had great things—(Extends his arm)—right beyond our finger tips. It’s been my dream: my dream to make those fingers grow longer: I’m a lucky man, Horace, a lucky man. To dream and to live to get what you’ve dreamed of. That’s my idea of a lucky man. (Looks at his fingers as his arm drops slowly) For thirty years I’ve cried bring the cotton mills to the cotton. (HORACE opens medicine bottle). Well, finally I got up nerve to go to Marshall Company in Chicago.What would be similar about a stage and a film interpretation of this scene?

A
Viewers would have to infer the emotions and motivations of Ben and Regina.
B
Viewers would have to envision the physical descriptions of Ben and Regina.
C
Viewers would have to imagine the few props being used by Ben and Regina.
D
Viewers would have to visualize the actions and movements of Ben and Regina.
11

Read the excerpt from the play The Little Foxes.HORACE. (smiles at her, nods) And I could guess that he wants to keep control in the family.REGINA (to BEN, triumphantly) Exactly. (To HORACE) So I did a little bargaining for you and convinced my brothers they weren’t the only Hubbards who had a business sense.HORACE. Did you have to convince them of that? How little people know about each other! (Laughs) But you’ll know better about Regina next time, eh, Ben? (BEN, REGINA, HORACE laugh together. OSCAR’S face is angry) Now let’s see. We’re getting a bigger share. (Looking at OSCAR) Who’s getting less?The underlined words and phrases best relate to which issue that is commonly found in feminist literature?

A
politics
B
science
C
economics
D
domesticity
12

Which best describes the style of The Little Foxes?

A
realistic
B
stylized
C
participatory
D
experimental
13

Read the excerpt from The Little Foxes.REGINA (to BEN, triumphantly) Exactly. (To HORACE) So I did a little bargaining for you and convinced my brothers they weren’t the only Hubbards who had a business sense.HORACE. Did you have to convince them of that? How little people know about each other! (Laughs) But you’ll know better about Regina next time, eh, Ben? (BEN, REGINA, HORACE laugh together. OSCAR’S face is angry) Now let’s see. We’re getting a bigger share. (Looking at OSCAR) Who’s getting less?Which of the following themes does this reinforce?

A
Women are often pressured to conform to roles set by society.
B
Women are commonly underestimated by those within society.
C
Women suffer injustices and abuses in male-dominated societies.
D
Women artists frequently face difficult paths when pursuing careers.
14

In The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy, the garden outside the Potiphar’s home symbolizes growth and natural beauty, and it highlights the

A
tense and rigid atmosphere inside the Potiphar’s home.
B
carefree and playful atmosphere inside the Potiphar’s home.
C
rage that Mrs. Potiphar feels toward Asenath.
D
warm and kind feelings that Asenath has for Joseph.
15

Which of the following most supports the fact that The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy is written in an experimental style?

A
The audience is actively and randomly involved in the play.
B
The author uses language that is unusual for the time period.
C
The setting and characters are presented in unusual ways.
D
The actors read lines before an audience with no setting.
16

Read the excerpt from The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy.MADAM POTIPHAR. She will be back in a moment. I brought her here to show her [Joseph], at work. But he is away somewhere, as usual. POTIPHAR. (defensively) He has other duties. MADAM POTIPHAR. Oh, yes, no doubt! POTIPHAR. What's the matter now? MADAM POTIPHAR. Nothing new. You know what I think about this Joseph of yours. POTIPHAR. (irritated) Now, if you are going to bring that subject up again—! Well, I tell you flatly, I won't do it.Which best described the tone of this excerpt?

A
combative
B
confused
C
hateful
D
deceitful
17

Read the following scene from The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy.THE LADY. Such a lovely house, Madam Potiphar!—But what is this quiet room? Your husband's study? MADAM POTIPHAR. (coming in) Oh, this is nothing—merely the room of one of the slaves. Come, dear Cousin Asenath, and I will show you the garden. The pomegranates are just beginning to blossom. ASENATH. The room of a slave? Indeed! He seems to be an educated person! How would a stage interpretation differ from an audio production of this scene?

A
Viewers would have to imagine the different sound effects associated with this scene.
B
Viewers would not have to infer the emotions or motivations of the characters associated with this scene.
C
Viewers would have to interpret the various stage directions associated with this scene.
D
Viewers would not have to visualize the setting or the background associated with this scene.
18

Which piece of dialogue from The Chaste Adventures of Joseph: A Comedy most reveals Madam Potiphar’s motives for wanting her husband to replace his secretary, Joseph?

A
MADAM POTIPHAR. (coming in) Oh, this is nothing—merely the room of one of the slaves.
B
MADAM POTIPHAR. (ironically) Send for Joseph? It would be useless. Joseph has affairs of his own on hand, always.
C
MADAM POTIPHAR. Yes—"Joseph." An ugly, foreign-sounding name, don't you think?
D
MADAM POTIPHAR. (looking amusedly after her) Silly little thing! (She stands there thinking.)There's no doubt of it! Joseph did come from Heliopolis last year.
19

Read the excerpt from the play The Inheritors.EMIL: Oh, well—Lord, you can't say everything you think. If everybody did that, things'd be worse off than they are now.MADELINE: Once in a while you have to say what you think—or hate yourself.EMIL: (with a grin) Then hate yourself.Which feminist literary theme of the early- to mid-twentieth century is best reflected in this excerpt?

A
Women are often oppressed in male-dominated society.
B
Women suffer injustices as a result of unfair laws.
C
Women feel pressure to speak out against injustice.
D
Women often have a difficult time fulfilling their career goals.
20

In Glaspell’s The Inheritors, which quotation most supports the feminist theme that women often feel a desire to control their own fate?

A
MADELINE: He got this letter out to me—written on this scrap of paper. . . . He's in what they call 'the hold', father—a punishment cell.
B
MADELINE: I do like good times. So does Fred Jordan like good times.
C
MADELINE: I do know what it means, but it means not being a coward.
D
MADELINE: I think I'm an American. And for that reason I think I have something to say about America.

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